September 12, 2004
Saikano Episode 09
"Akemi"
In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll admit that the first time I watched Saikano, this episode was the last one I watched. It wasn't that the show ceased to be entertaining, or something so godawful happened in this episode that I didn't want to watch anymore.
No, this episode was just too much for me.
This episode is probably the most depressing twenty-five minutes of animation created (with the exception of Grave of the Fireflies, which is a whole different type of downer), and I was in permanent cringe mode throughout (even this being my second time through).
When I started rewatching Saikano, I was both looking forward to and dreading this episode. I thought that maybe my memory of it had colored it, making me remember it as being more painful than it actually was, but now having seen it again, I don't think I exaggerated it much at all. In fact, I remember most of the details of it, which is a testament to the power (scarring!) of this part of the story.
I'll be breaking new ground after this one, but once again, I have that feeling that I don't really need to go on from here.
Rating: A+
Posted by Kei at September 12, 2004 01:28 AMAye. So very true.
Akemi is probably the most emotionally brutal 25 minutes I've ever lived through. Grave of the Fireflies doesn't even come close.
It also marked the turning point of the series for me. After this, I felt myself disattach. It was enough, dammit. No more.
A floodgates episode to everybody with a trace of a heart. Wonderfully done, an absolute masterpiece ... but why does it have to be so unbearably sad?
Posted by: Mentar at September 13, 2004 06:18 AMThis is definitely one of the saddest moments in ANY anime series or any movie Ive ever witnessed. what happened in this episode is so tragic and just wrong for anyone to go through that much grief and tragedy. So horrible yet so beautiful in how true to life it is. Brilliant A+++episode. Actually I give Saikano itself an A+ along with Haibane Renmei at the top of my list.
I saw Saikano 3 months ago this episode and the death scene with Akemi is by far the most disturbing thing I've witnessed. Normally I'd forget an anime but yesterday.. Akemi's screem still haunts me. so I gave it a rewatch I also thought I'd exaggerated this scene in my memory but no... To hear Akemi poor out her hopes, dreams & asperations for the future as well as her secret love for Shuji, you as a viewer can't help but fall for her and then to see her suffer and die screaming for life.. well that's more than I bargained for. I can honestly say no other media has affected me more. Silly me I'd like a time travel device to be found in these 2005 OAVs so something could be done about this episode/series outcome as it bummed me out. :(
Posted by: chazzy2501 at January 22, 2005 01:14 PMAnd I thought there was enough depression from watching Grave of the Fireflies. After seeing "Akemi," I'm reminded that there are much more depressing moments that are that much sadder. This is the most depressing moment of anime I've ever seen yet. Throughout the ten minutes where we see Shuji with the battered up Akemi, she confesses love, her desires, and dreams for the future she wanted with Shuji, yet she set aside all those desires so Chise could have that happiness instead. But, the moment of Akemi's death will forever haunt me as the saddest moment I'll ever see on any show. While she can't live out her life to the fullest with the one she loves, she does die with him by her side in the end. There was so much realism in that scene alone, that I was almost in tears upon seeing Akemi confess everything and then just die.
Posted by: Ggultra2764 at January 29, 2005 11:10 PMThis episode really killed me. Throughout most of the series, i was either crying, sobbing, or my eyes were watery. Then, this episode came. I couldn't stop crying through it, and even now, just thinking about any of it makes me cry. I just finished watching the whole series an hour ago, I watched all 13 episodes in one sitting....For a guy, I guess I'm very soft, but, anyone with even a bit of a heart would get teary eyed. this whole episode really really stabbed me so deep....This whole series did. I think i'll be stuck in this depressed state for the rest of the weekend. I really loved it all though
Posted by: Kazuki at April 16, 2005 04:26 AMvery very sad. i feel very sad
Posted by: hi at July 26, 2005 05:15 AM